Advantages of Laser Dentistry

• In most cases no anesthesia required
• Reduced bleeding and swelling
• Reduced chance of infection (the laser kills bacteria)
• Takes less time than conventional procedures
• Reduced pain
• Reduced postoperative discomfort
• Faster healing

Laser Safety

Approved by the FDA, lasers offer a trained dentist a degree of precise control not available before. The concentrated beam of light is so powerful, it actually kills harmful bacteria, resulting in a safer, more sterile environment. During you treatment, you will be provided safety glasses with special lenses to protect your eyes from the bright light. Anyone else in the room where you are being treated will also be required to wear eye protection. Laser dentistry has been proven to be safe for everyone. To put it into perspective, laser have become part of our everyday life. The same technology that makes CD music and the barcode scanner at the grocery store possible is used in laser dentistry.

Gum-related Care

Lasers are currently used to reshape gums and to remove extra or diseased gum tissue. Lasers can also remove bacteria from gum pockets to promote healing. The use of dental lasers may also reduce overall healing time. Lasers have been shown to be an amazingly easy and effective tool to eliminate the need for conventional gum surgery. Many high-blood pressure medications and other classes of drugs may cause the overgrowth of gum tissue, leading to gum disease. Dental lasers can effectively remove the growth, leaving healthy gum tissue in its place.

What are Veneers?
Veneers are a thin, translucent coating made out of porcelain or resin (plastic). They are applied to the front teeth to improve their color, size, or shape. Veneers can help you achieve the smile you want.

Are Veneers Right for You?
Veneers can correct many dental problems.
These include:

• Teeth discolored from medication or age
• Front teeth that are worn or chipped
• Gaps and other spaces between teeth
• Crooked teeth

Let your dentist know why you want veneers. If they are not right for you, another type of treatment may be an option.

The Procedure

Veneers may require 2 or 3 office visits from start to finish. Your dentist first examines your teeth. He or she will then discuss what kind of veneers will be used. You and your dentist will choose the right veneer color for your new smile. Your teeth are then prepared for veneers. And the veneers are bonded to your teeth.

The enamel is reduced

The veneer is bonded

The cement is hardened

Preparing Your Teeth

Your teeth may be lightly filed. A mold of your teeth is then taken and sent to a lab to make your veneers. Before you leave the office, your dentist may apply temporary veneers. If you don't get temporary veneer, avoid cold foods and drinks. Your teeth may be more sensitive than usual.

Between Visits

Until you next visit, the dentist may tell you to:

• Brush your teeth gently and avoid foods that are too cold.
• Avoid eating hard foods. They may loosen your temporary veneers.

Bonding of Veneers

Before bonding, your dentist will fit the veneers on your teeth and check the color. Slight changes in veneer color can be made by varying the color of the cement. The surfaces of your teeth are then cleansed. The veneers are bonded to your teeth with a special cement that is hardened with a high-intensity light. Any excess cement is removed. Finished veneers should feel comfortable.

A Partial Denture Replaces Missing Teeth

You now have a partial denture to replace missing teeth and restore your smile. You should be able to chew more easily and with greater comfort. The partial will also help preserve your remaining teeth. Wearing a partial can be easy. Just spend a little time getting used to it. And take good care of your partial to keep your mouth healthy and help your partial last.

Your Partial Denture

A partial denture is made up of one or more porcelain or plastic replacement teeth. Gum-colored plastic attaches these teeth to a metal framework. The partial is removable. It is held in your mouth with either metal clasps or precision attachments (special clasps made to fit into crowns).

Adjusting to Your Partial

Your dentist can make sure your partial fits properly. Follow the instructions that your dentist gives to you help your mouth adjust. This may take a few weeks.

Getting the Best Fit

Several visits to the dentist may be needed to be sure the partial fits properly. Your partial is custom-made for your mouth. Even so, it may feel awkward for the first few weeks while your mouth gets used to it.

Tips to Help During Adjustment

Try a few of these tips. They may help your mouth adjust faster and more easily.

• At first, eat soft foods and foods that have been cut into small pieces. Once you're used to eating with the partial, you eat almost anything you like. However, avoid very sticky or hard foods.
• Practice reading out loud until you can talk comfortably with the partial in place.
• Practice putting the partial in and talking it out in front of a mirror. Never force it or bite down to try to get it into place.

Wearing Your Partial

Your dentist will recommend how long to wear the partial and when to remove it. At first, you might wear it all the time. Later on, you may be told to remove your partial at night to give your gums a rest.

Root Canals- Endodontics

Root canal treatment (endodontics) is about saving teeth, rather than removing them. In the past, the only way to treat teeth with disease was to pull them. This is not the case today. Now, thanks to modern dental techniques, we are able to save the damaged teeth more than 90% of the time.

Root canal therapy treats disorders in the nerve (pulp) of the tooth. It can save a tooth whose pulp, which contains its nerves and blood supply, is diseased or damaged. Pulp disease usually means that the tooth will be lost unless something is done to save it. Root canal therapy involves replacing the diseased pulp with a substance that will keep the tooth functional.

Reasons for Root Canals

A damaged or diseased tooth will not heal by itself. Without treatment, the infection will spread, bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate and the tooth could fall out. The only alternative is removing the tooth.

Common Factors and Symptoms

• Trauma such as a physical blow
• Irritation caused by deep decay
• Advanced gum disease
• Pain or throbbing while biting
• Sensitivity to hot and cold
• Severe decay or an injury that creates inflammation

Treatment

After examining and X-raying the tooth, it will be determined if a root canal is needed. When the decision for root canal therapy has been made, a series of appointments will be scheduled.

• First appointment-the diseased pulp will be removed, leaving the canal intact. The canal will be rinsed out, and a medication will be placed inside the canal. A temporary crown will be placed on the tooth.
• Second appointment- the canal will be sterilized and filled with a permanent material. It's important to follow all of your instructions to avoid complications.

Over the years, people have heard horror stories about root canals. Rest assured that your dentist will administer medication to make sure the area is numb and you won't feel pain. Today, a root canal procedure using modern technology is nearly pain-free. The tissue surrounding the tooth may be sensitive following the procedure. Over-the-counter pain medication can be used to help the discomfort.

A crown, sometimes referred to as a “cap”, is an artificial covering cemented over an existing tooth that has been specially prepared by your dentist (somewhat like a thimble over your finger). Your dentist may recommend a crown if your tooth is fractured has a large, old filling or is severely damaged by decay. Crowns can restore a tooth to its original shape, strengthen a tooth and improve your overall appearance. Crowning is a long-term restorative procedure that can usually be completed in two appointments. Crowns are designed to look and feel like your natural teeth.

Benefits of Crowns

Repair chipped or fractured teeth
Teeth can be lightened to any shade
Fill gaps in teeth
Restore and maintain your bite
Improve your smile and chewing ability
Last longer than any other type of restoration

Type of Crowns

• Metal Crowns – The classic metal dental crown is made of gold alloy. Dentists find gold to be a very workable metal and one which fits very precisely. Gold also withstands biting and chewing and will not chip. Gold crowns are potentially the longest lasting type of crown. Over the years, a variety of metal alloys have been put to use in the making of crowns.
• Porcelain Crowns – Dental crowns that will show when you smile are usually made of porcelain or have a veneer of porcelain on the surface to match your natural teeth. Porcelain crowns tend not to be as strong as other types of crowns are usually not placed on back teeth. This type of crown can be more expensive than the alternatives.
• Porcelain fused to metal crowns – These are a cross between metal and porcelain crowns. When they are made, the technician makes a shell of metal which covers your tooth. A veneer of porcelain is then fused over this metal. These crowns are good for front or back teeth and provide you with the strength of metal with the natural appearance of porcelain.

Treatment

Once your dentist determines that you need a crown, a series of appointments will be scheduled.

At the first appointment:

• A complete oral exam, including X-rays will be done
• The area to be treated will be numbed by injection
• The tooth will be shaped so the crown can fit over it
• An impression will be made of the area and a temporary crown will be placed on the tooth

At the second appointment:

• Any adjustment to the permanent crown will be made
• Your bite and chewing accuracy will be checked
• The color of the crown will be matched to your natural teeth
• The permanent crown will be cemented into place
  

If you are faced with tooth loss, crown and bridge treatment may be the best option for you. A bridge is a custom-made device anchored to neighboring natural teeth, which replaces one or more missing teeth. When a lost tooth is replaced with bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one are prepared as crowns to hold the bridge in place. Bridges sometimes referred to as a fixed partial denture, look natural and literally bridge the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Fixed bridges appear and function similar to natural teeth and remain in the mouth at all times. They can only be removed by your dentist.

Benefits of Crown and Bridge Treatment

• Restores lost teeth and supports remaining teeth
• Restores and maintains your natural bite
• Prevents undue stress on natural teeth
  Improves your speech, smile and chewing ability
• Helps prevent further dental decay and gum disease
• Prevents tilting and shifting of adjacent teeth

Crowns

A crown or “cap” is a tooth-like covering placed over an existing tooth that has been specially prepared by your dentist. Crowns help to strengthen and restore or improve the appearance of your natural teeth. In addition to strengthening a tooth to accommodate the attachment of a bridge, crowns serve many functions. One of the most common is to support the tooth when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to place a filling. Crowns and bridges are most often made of superior materials such as semi-precious or precious metals, porcelain or a combination of metal fused to porcelain.

Crown and Bridge Procedure

Once it is determined you need crown and bridgework, a series of appointments will be scheduled

• At the first appointment you will undergo a complete oral examination. If X-rays are required, they are taken. Next, the abutting teeth are reduced to accept crowns and impressions are made. A dental laboratory will use these impressions as a model to create the bridge, false tooth and crown. Your teeth are then fitted with a temporary crown or bridge to protect your teeth until the next appointment
• At the second appointment, your cosmetic dentist will make any necessary adjustments before cementing it permanently. The dentist will take time to color match the bridge so it looks natural, check your chewing and biting for accuracy and ensure the bridge conforms to the surrounding tissue. It is common for your teeth to be mildly sensitive to extreme temperatures for a few weeks after the procedure
  

With nearly 40 million Americans having lost some or all of their teeth, dental implants are a popular option for replacing those lost teeth. Implants are comfortable, attractive and will help you regain confidence in your smile. They are an alternative to bridges, partials or dentures. Implants can look and feel like natural teeth. An implant simply is a metallic titanium object that is inserted into your jawbone to act like a natural tooth-root. Titanium isn’t recognized by the body’s immune system, so it is not rejected as an implant. It integrates with the jawbone to give a firm support to the artificial replacement that it will support.

Reasons for Implants

• No worrying about dentures falling out – a stable foundation
• Improves biting pressure
• Insufficient teeth amount or jaw structure for other types of replacements
• Restores proper chewing ability which leads to a better diet and improved overall health
• Eliminates tooth shifting
• No loose dentures
• No gooey denture adhesives
• Improves speech
• Won’t apply damaging pressure to your natural teeth
• Comfort and fit
• Help pressure healthy vital tooth structure (unlike a bridge)
• They look and feel like your natural teeth
• Increase your self-confidence when talking and smiling

Ideal Candidates

Generally, candidates for dental implants should be in good health, have healthy gums, good oral habits for the aftercare and a healthy jawbone to support the implants. Your dental implants can be adversely be affected by some chronic diseases, existing dental problems, diabetes, bone disorders, smoking and alcohol. Your doctor can evaluate your situation to determine if dental implants are the best option for you.

Risks Associated with Implants

Complications are rare with implant procedures. When infections or other complications occur, medication or surgical intervention may be used to treat it. Oral surgery may incur damaging of the nerve that controls sensation. Such complication is rare and may be temporary or permanent. In addition, there is the risk of bleeding, swelling, bruising, infections, discomfort, cosmetic problems and damage to other natural teeth.

Procedure

Implant placement does require several steps over a period of time ranging from 3 months to over 1 year depending on your specific needs. Here are the steps followed for implant therapy:

• The implant is inserted into the jawbone and allowed to heal for several months
• A post is attached to the implant and a temporary artificial tooth is used
• A permanent tooth is attached after all healing is complete
  

PERIDONTAL DISEASE TREATMENT

How does it work?
Tartar, associated with inflammation and occasional bleeding gums, is removed from the root surface of the tooth using an ultrasonic scale and small instruments.

Then, a small amount of light energy from a laser is directed through a tiny fiber, which is gently placed between the gum and tooth. This light energy aids in reducing the bacteria associated with the disease. After the area is thoroughly cleaned, the body can heal naturally.

Tartar causes gums to become inflamed, red, sore, and sometimes bleed. Pocket depth is measured. The tartar is removed and the laser treats the area and allows natural healing to occur.

Does it hurt?
Although the procedure itself can be virtually painless, we may anesthetize the area for your comfort. In this way we can precisely direct the laser for treatment. Post-procedure discomfort is typically less intense and of shorter duration than conventional periodontal surgery.

How long does it take?
Your initial treatment will focus on scaling and use of small instruments to remove tartar. Then, the laser portion of the treatment will be performed. Depending on the severity of your periodontal disease, your treatment may be accomplished in one office visit or in multiple visits. Your estimated treatment time will reviewed with you when we discuss your treatment plan.

Does this treatment cost more than traditional gum surgery?
We use the same billing codes as traditional gum surgery. There are other factors which may affect the cost such as the severity of the periodontal disease and how many teeth are involved.

The remarkable speed of the laser, the reduced anesthesia, and the increased comfort for our patients made the new system attractive to our practice. You should note however that many insurance plans pay for only a portion of your treatment. You should discuss your payment options with the dental office personnel before laser treatment begins. We encourage you to take care of the need now to reduce further damage to your gums, teeth, and bone.

Now KaVo DIAGNOdent helps you detect the invisible.

DIAGNOdent helps detect caries at the earliest possible stage so the most appropriate treatment plans can be designed for patients. Measurements from the DIAGNOdent, together with conventional diagnostic tools and valuable professional judgment, will help determine whether to monitor suspect areas over time and treat them with preventive therapy, or restore them with minimally invasive techniques. It is now possible with DIAGNOdent to quantify the various stages of decay more accurately and without exposing patients to radiation.

DIAGNOdent is the exciting result of years of research by leading clinicians at the universities of Berne, Switzerland, Dundee, Scotland and Homburg, Germany, in cooperation with experts from the Laser Institute in Ulm, Germany and KaVo’s research & development team.

What is the DIAGNOdent actually measuring?
The DIAGNOdent measures laser fluorescence within tooth structure, As the incident laser light is propagated into the site, two-way hand piece optics allows the unit to simultaneously quantify the reflected laser light energy, At the specific wavelength that the DIAGNOdent laser operates, clean healthy tooth structure exhibits little or no fluorescence, resulting in a very low scale readings on the display. However, carious tooth structure will exhibit fluorescence, proportionate to the degree of caries, resulting in elevated scale readings on display of the DIAGNOdent. An audio signal allows the operator to hear changes in the scale values, enabling focus on the patient and not solely on the device.

DIAGNOdent: Because you can’t treat what you can’t see.

Leaders in the field of caries research agree: conventional methods of caries diagnosis alone are inadequate and outdated for modern dentistry. With the fluoridation of water and improved oral hygiene standards the nature of caries has changed. Harder and more resistant enamel can conceal aggressive sub-surface decay.

Manuel probing with an explorer is often an ineffective means to detect caries as the enamel defect may be too small or inaccessible to the explorer tip. In fact, Manuel probing can actually stimulate caries as a result if iatrogenic damage caused by probe-force. Bitewing x-rays, although effective in revealing advanced stages of decay, are unsuccessful in detecting early caries, especially in the complex anatomy of fissure areas.

Because 80% of caries occur in the occlusal anatomy it can remain virtually undetected with traditional diagnostic methods until significantly developed. The DIAGNOdent is a reliable, non-invasive supplement to the contemporary dentist’s arsenal of diagnostic procedures and is highly effective in detecting caries at an early stage where teeth are most vulnerable.